Theres no question about it, the back of the Nothing Phone 3 is easily one of the ugliest designs we've seen in recent years, or maybe ever. I say that as someone who has repeatedly told you that the camera bump on the iPhone, Galaxy S, or Pixel doesnt matter as long as we get great pictures out of that smartphone.The rear camera design on a flagship phone is a huge compromise between looks and functionality. We have to accept the growing bump until technology advances enough to let smartphone vendors shrink camera modules without impacting photo and video quality.The same applies to the Phone 3s rear camera system with its scattered lenses. This is the Nothing flagship some fans have been waiting for for years. The rear design shouldnt matter more than the iPhone 16, Galaxy S25, or Pixel 9. And in theory, it doesnt.While I know the rear camera design shouldnt matter, every time I look at it, my brain tells me its ugly. I blame it on the phone beauty standards weve grown used to over the years, as smartphone vendors kept refining familiar models.That said, I get what Nothing is doing with this unusual phone design, and I love it. The odd camera placement and the Glyph Matrix next to it give the Phone 3 the one thing many phones lack: identity.Nothing's display is nothing specialA Nothing marketing image that shows the Phone 3's display. Image source: NothingAnalyze Nothings marketing materials for the Phone 3 in this post and youll quickly see that the hole-punch display barely gets any screen time. Most videos and photos focus on the back of the handset, because theres nothing special about the front.The 6.67-inch 120Hz screen has a hole-punch 50-megapixel camera at the top and impressive 1.87mm bezels. It delivers 1.5K resolution and a peak brightness of up to 4,500 nits. But if you look at the Phone 3s display, you wont be able to tell it apart from any other Android smartphone.This design is as generic as they come. Maybe thats why Apple is rumored to move its hole-punch camera to the left on a future iPhone once Face ID goes under the hood.What about the specs?Nothing Phone 3 in black and white. Image source: NothingAll Android phones tend to share the same set of specs every year. The same goes for the Phone 3. Almost. Nothing opted for the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 high-end chip instead of the Snapdragon 8 Elite rivals use this year. Its paired with up to 12GB or 16GB of RAM and 256GB or 512GB of storage.Add three 50-megapixel cameras on that ugly back, a 5,150 mAh battery with 65W wired charging, and Nothing OS 3.5 with AI features at the core (including Essential Space), and you get a flagship Android experience similar to other 2025 high-end phones.Maybe the 5,150 mAh silicon-carbon battery stands out. Its a battery technology that lets smartphone vendors increase energy density without using a larger battery.The phone also has dedicated buttons for Essential Space and the Glyph Matrix. Then theres the red pulsating pixel on the back that glows when youre recording video.But all of that still isnt enough to build a strong identity for a phone brand thats still in its early years.Is it the price?The Phone 3 will start at $799, matching the price of most flagship phones from Apple, Samsung, and Google. Carl Pei might have helped make affordable flagship killers before founding Nothing, but the Phone 3 doesnt fall into that category. Its priced like a regular flagship, which is better than cutting corners to make it cheaper.Back to the backThe camera layout stands out the most in the white version. Image source: NothingWith all that in mind, the Nothing Phone 3 seems like a perfectly fine Android flagship, but one that wouldnt get much attention without that unusual back design.Remember that Nothing introduced the Glyph interface years ago to generate buzz. I never liked it, and Im sure I wouldnt need or use the Glyph Matrix either. But I get the point. The rear design of a phone can be a powerful marketing tool. It sparks engagement and debate.Thats why the ugly camera design makes sense. The Phone 3 still tries to look transparent without actually being transparent. The camera chaos triggers my brain to dislike it, mostly because Im used to expecting some symmetry.The periscope camera in the top left corner is especially off-putting. But when you combine it with the other two camera lenses and the Glyph Matrix, you get a controversial design that gives the Phone 3 a distinct and refreshing personality.Also keep in mind that Nothing wants you to look at that rear design often to use the Glyph Matrix. You wont be able to ignore the unusual design choices. And Im sure others will stare at your Phone 3 when you use it in public.A teardown of the Phone 3 will probably show this was the only way to fit all these components on the back without affecting battery size, thermals, or durability. Until then, theres always Nothings video below that explains how and why the company designed the Phone 3 this way.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O97JLUOogigDon't Miss: It looks like we might get a Nintendo Switch 2 price hike after allThe post The new Nothing Phone 3 is hideous, but I totally love it appeared first on BGR.